Utilization of Maternal Healthcare Services and Infant Feeding Practices

The goal of this observational study is to assess household food insecurity among slum-dwelling women in India and to explore if household food insecurity is associated with maternal healthcare services utilization and infant feeding practices The main questions it aims to answer are: 1. Is the utilization of maternal healthcare services antenatally, during delivery, and postnatally associated with household food insecurity among slum-dwelling women in Pune, India? 2. Is household food insecurity associated with birth outcomes and infant growth in these women? Participants will be asked: 1. For information related to socio-demographic characteristics, healthcare services utilization, food insecurity experience, dietary intake, and infant feeding indicators using a questionnaire. 2. Anthropometric measurements of the participant, her husband and her infant/s will be collected. 3. Focus group discussions (FGDs) will also be conducted to gain insight into the perceptions of these women with respect to the utilization of maternal healthcare services.